Visa Day!

So yesterday I went to London and had my visa appointment. First of all, it was approved YAY, second there's nothing to worry about, third, I had to wait, AGES.
I got a train with Mum at half 9 and got to the embassy just after my given time (11.30) oops! It didn't seem to matter at all that I was late though. I had to show my documents to someone outside (poor girl, was freezing!) and then queued up for a few minutes and was let inside the little building with the scanner and metal detector. I had left everything with Mum (who waited in a Starbucks just up the road) so I had nothing to leave. Electricals seemed to be the only issue though and handbags were fine. I saw a guard with a huge gun as I walked outside again and round to the Embassy entrance scary! Then I showed my docs again and was given a number (437) probably will never forget it as its all I had to think about for hours....

Then the wait began. The room was very busy at first and I stood at the side with a lovely girl I got chatting to who is going to work on cruises from Port Canaveral Florida so hopefully I will see her out there. Numbers were called constantly in random order, i.e when we got in there was '275 to window 7' and straight after number '1' to another window, you get the idea. And as people have said it was just a giant Argos basically. You are called to a window in the 1-12 range first where they take your documents and fingerprints, and then to a window (I was 22) after for 'one to ones' and that is where you find out if you are successful eek!
So I had to wait an hour first of all which was fine, I was chatting so it went quickly. I scanned in a photo (passport) for my DS-160 but then was asked to give an additional photo so I offered her a choice of the same passport photo, or the new 'visa' photos I got taken (cost £7!!) but it turns out they needed this kind so good job I did get them. I was also given a riveting booklet to read about my rights. Here you can see the difference in the two photo sizes, people were saying they weren't different but they are quite: (and ignore my awful face!)

After this I thought won't be too long a wait, so I got out my maths notes and read them, and then sat, and waited and waited... really wish id brought my book but I left it in my handbag, damn. In the end I had to wait 2 more hours and the worst bit was there was no clock anywhere. I found a tiny one on the BBC news channel tele, and passed time by buying a snickers from the strange snacks man. Anyway finally at 3pm or so I was the second last person left (!!) and went to the window for all of 2 minutes where I had my prints checked on one hand, asked a few questions and was done! I took proof of what id be doing after summer (job offer) and didn't need it.

Also when we paid for our passports to be sent back they DID NOT take cash (thanks again for the useful info Yummy!!) just card. I had two differents cards with me just in case, as it'd be rubbish after all that waiting to fail the last hurdle!

So all in all it took nearly 4 hours, ew! And I didn't see any famous people (my sis went last year and saw 2 bands, and Wayne Rooney being rejected!)

The rest of the day involved shopping in the huge Topshop (and a red velvet Lolas cupcake yum) and browsing Selfridges- I got given a demo by some HTC guy of the new phone, definitely fancy it! And then a huge dinner (as I'd had no lunch) with Mum at the fancy Hix restaurant in Selfridges, including a Bellini, spicy squid and steak yum yum yum!!

xx